Lychee
Photo management software
Photography software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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€5 per month
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Free version
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What is Lychee
Lychee is a self-hosted photo management web application used to store, organize, and share photo libraries. It targets individuals and teams that want a private, browser-based gallery with album organization and link-based sharing. The product is typically deployed on a user-managed server (for example, a VPS or home server) and emphasizes ownership of storage and data rather than a hosted SaaS workflow.
Self-hosted data ownership
Lychee runs on infrastructure controlled by the user, which can help meet internal privacy or residency requirements. Photos remain in the organization’s storage rather than being uploaded to a vendor-operated cloud. This model can also reduce ongoing per-user subscription dependency for basic library access.
Browser-based gallery access
Lychee provides a web UI for browsing, organizing, and viewing photos without requiring a desktop client. This supports access across operating systems and devices via a standard browser. It fits lightweight review and sharing scenarios where stakeholders only need a link and permissions.
Simple albums and sharing
The product focuses on core library functions such as albums, basic metadata handling, and shareable links. This makes it suitable for straightforward cataloging and presenting collections to clients or internal audiences. The feature set is generally easier to adopt than full end-to-end creative suites.
Requires server administration
Lychee typically requires installation, updates, backups, and security hardening by the user. Organizations without Linux/web-stack administration may need external support or managed hosting. Operational tasks (storage growth, monitoring, SSL, and patching) remain the customer’s responsibility.
Limited pro editing workflow
Lychee is primarily a management and gallery tool rather than a full RAW-centric editing and color workflow. Advanced capabilities common in dedicated desktop photography applications (deep non-destructive editing, tethering, complex catalog tools) are not its core focus. Teams needing end-to-end post-production may need additional software alongside it.
Fewer enterprise controls
Compared with enterprise-oriented DAM and cloud content platforms, Lychee may offer fewer built-in governance features. Capabilities such as granular role-based access control, SSO/SAML, audit logs, and formal compliance tooling may be limited or require custom work. This can be a constraint for regulated or large multi-team deployments.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Self-hosted open-source (MIT). Unlimited users, albums, tags, photo uploads; core photo-management features; install from GitHub or Docker. |
| Supporter Edition (Lychee SE) | €5 per month | Same features as Free plus statistics on your library, user groups & upload quotas, anonymous uploads, secured image links, watermarking, extended customizations, license key obtained via GitHub Sponsors/Open Collective. No trial or refunds (per official FAQ). |
| Pro (add-on) | Custom pricing | Optional Pro addon targeted at photographers/businesses who sell photos (webshop integration, payment integrations like Mollie/PayPal, order administration). Listed as custom pricing on official site. |
